Electromagnetic



Jan. 5, 1937. .1. A. JONSSON ELECTROMAGNETIC STAMPING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 5, 1937.

J. A. JONSSON ,066,403

ELECTROMAGNETIC STAMPING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 5, 1937. J. A. JONSSON ELECTROMAGNETIC STAMPING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 5, 1937.

J. A. JONSSON ELECTROMAGNETI C S TAMP ING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1935 4 She etsSheet 4 IZIIIIIIIIIFIII 21: 6 fir :1

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Johan Albin ,lonsson, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden, a company of Sweden application July 16, 1935, Serial No. 31,626 In Sweden June 6, 1934 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetically operated or controlled impression mechanism and particularly to a mechanism of the type which is used for Workmen's time recorders. It is known to build recording apparatus sothat the impressing is effected upon closing of a circuit by an electromagnet, the ener: gizing circuit of which is closed either manually by means of a push button or the like or automatically by an inserted card which, upon insertion, directly engages a contact. In workmens time recorders the first mentioned arrangement has, however, the inconvenience that it requires the use of both hands of the operator. This is very inconvenient particularly if a considerable number of workmen pass, having packages or tools in their hands. The closing of the said circuit by means of an inserted card has the inconvenience that the closing and opening of the circuit is eiiected slowly whereby the contacts are soon destroyed and the current consumption becomes unreasonably great.

Such inconveniences are avoided according to the present invention by providing a contact arrangement for closing and opening the circuit through an electromagnetic arrangement for driving or controlling the apparatus, is controlled by a toothed wheel or ratchet wheel which CO7- operates with a stepping mechanism adapted to be advanced alternately on the closing of the circuit by means .of an arm arranged in the path .of the time .card and adapted to be actuated by the latter upon its insertion in the apparatus and alternately on the breaking of the circuit by means of a lever or the like connected with the electromagnetic arrangement.

The moving force proper may, for instance, consist of a constantly rotating shaft which by means of an eiectrornagnet is momentarily coupled to the apparatus ,at each stamping operation, but generally it is more preferable to let the electromagnetic arrangement supply also the energy necessary for operating the apparatus. One important reason for selecting the latter embodiment the fact that on account of the momentary circuit closing and circuit opening effected according to the present invention considerably greater currents can be allowed the circuit of the ,electromagnet of the new apparatus than in previously known apparatus. This advantage is utilized for providing a simpier and more solid construction of the mechanismof the new apparat s thanin ha O .ma a-l perate ap aratus and addition the contact mechanism and its 'co-ope'rating parts.

as viewed from the left side ,ofthe apparatus. Figure 2 is a rear View, partly in section,oi the same portion of the apparatus according to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a rear viewof the entire ap paratus with the casing partly cut away to show the mechanism. Figure :1 shows the apparatus in the same manner but viewed from the left, and Figure 5 as viewed from the right. In Figures 3 to 5 some details having no connection with the invention haye been omitted to make the figures more clear.

At the upper part of the recess I intended for the card holder are arranged a hole finder 2, a puncher 3 and a feeler arm 4. When a work.- mans time card is inserted in the card holder its lower edge .engages'the feeler arm 4 which is turned clockwise in Figure 1 until the card can pass by the rounded-oil end of said arm. The upper end of a spring .5 is connected to the rear part of the feeler arm 1, the lower end of said spring being connected to a short lever secured to an arm .6 on which the hole finder 2 is secured. If the arm A is turned clockwise, the spring 5 pulls the arm 6 with it, turning it around the pivot .60, and if the hole finder engages the card it i Stopped together with the armt, and the sp in s being ten ion Until the h finder 2 finds a hole in the card it slips along the same, but at the moment when the hole finder snaps into a hole and arrests the card the atte ll r ss d wn he hole fi e 2 fu ther so that the depending end 1 of the arm 6 engages a pin 8 2, extending laterally from a side plate ii. Ifhe latter is rc'atatablef'about a pivot Ill against the ,action of a spring 15. On the pivot to, which'is" secured at both of its ends to the ,frame of the apparatus, and inside the side plate 9 is secured a ratchet wheel II which is adapted to co-operate with a feed'pawl 12 which is rotatable abeuta pivot [3 against the actionof a spring M. The pivot l3 is'at its rear end (Figure 2) secureda-side plate l5 whichlis parallel with the side plate 9 and held in posi tion at a suitable distance from the latter by meansof pins provided with spacers.

When the arm 1 engages the'pin 8, according to the above, the pin -8 together with the side plat 9 a d w l s r e j q emlq i 5:

' to Figure 4).

helical spring 35 which holds the bracing 3I and 2 r 1 he rts (Figure 1) against the action of the spring I6. During this movement the feed pawl I2 engages the ratchet wheel I I and turns the same counterclockwise thereby causing one of its teeth against which a hook-shaped projection I8 of an arm I! rests, to slip away whilst the projection E8 snaps into the space between two teethuntil it contacts with a stop pin 22. The arm I! is a twoarmed lever which is rotatable about a pivot I9 and, at its other end, is provided with a hammer 20 of insulating material which presses against a contact spring 2!, the lever being held by said spring in its position of rest against the point of a tooth of the ratchet wheel I I.

Laterally of the lever II and on the same pivot I9 is arranged a similar lever 23 having a projection 24 which also co-operates withthe ratchet wheel II. The point of the projection 24 is positioned about one third of the width of a tooth to the right of the point of the projection it as viewed in Figure 1. The lever 23 bears against the contact spring25 by means of a hammer 25 of insulating material and is held by said spring in its position of rest against the stop pin 22.

l The stop pin is sopositioned that the projections I8 and 24 can not reach the bottom of the spaces between the teeth of the ratchet wheel I I whereby the arrangement becomes more easy to be operated. The contact springs BI, 26 are connected in series with a powerful electromagnet 2'! and an external current source.

In the position of rest of the arrangement the contacts of the contact springs 21, 28 are separated, as shown in Figure 1, and the circuit through the electromagnet is interrupted. If the ratchet wheel i'. is advanced one step counterclockwise according to the above, the projection I8 will first reach the stop pin 22 whereby the the spindle 29. 'The stamping hammer 32 is pressed against the bracing 3I by a helical spring 34 which is secured in an eye 35 arranged at the rear of the bracing 3| (i. e. to the left according In said eye 35 is also secured a thus also the armature 28 in its position of rest counter-clockwise. The helical spring 34 has the effect, that in the clockwise end position of the armature the hammer is flung further forward on account of its inertia and is thereafter immediately pulled back to bear against the bracing 3|. Hereby the difficulty found in some other stamping apparatus, viz. that the hammer interferes with the movement of the digit wheels is eliminated. I

The lever 33 positioned laterally of the stamping hammer 32 (Figures 3 and 4) is connected with the bracing 3| bymeans of a riveted-on bolt 31 passing through the bracing and over which is threaded a helical spring which has the effect of damping the movements of the lever 33. At the upper end of the lever 33 there is provided a recess 38 which is adapted upon clockwise movement of the lever to embrace a tooth of the ratchet wheel II in the end position of the latter when the feed pawl I2 rests against the pin 22. As to be seen in Fig. 4, the recess 38 in the lever 33 has the same contour line as a tooth of the ratchet wheel II. This recess can therefore embrace in the right end position of the lever 33 the tooth which is shown most to the left in Fig; 1. Thereby the ratchet wheell I is prevented from further rotation counter-clockwise. This is a measure of safety intended to prevent the ratchet wheel from rotating too far on account of its inertia. When during its clockwise movement the lever 33 has arrived to the above position it engages a pin 39 secured between the side plates 9 andl and carries the pin 39 together with the side plates 9 and I5 counter-clockwise. The feed pawl I2 is hereby caused toadvance the ratchet wheel II until its engages the pin 22.

Previously to the movement of the lever 33 the gaged the pin 8 and turned the side plates 9 and I 5 clockwise causing the feed pawl I 2 to advance theratchet wheel II.' When the latter reaches its intermediate position and the circuit is closed between the contact springs 2|, 26 the lever 33 will advance the ratchet wheel further according to the above so that the point of the surface 24 drops down behind the next tooth the two arms I! and 23 being thereby brought back to the same mutual positions as in Figure 1. Thus the circuit through the electromagnet is closed only during the short time which the armature and the parts secured thereto need for their movement and is thereafter interrupted instantaneously since the teeth of the ratchet wheel II have such a shape that the projection 24 can drop freely into the space between the teeth after having passed the point of a tooth.

Immediately upon being deenergized the electromagnet 21 releases its armature 28 permitting the armature together with the parts 38 to 33 to be turned back counter-clockwise by the spring 35. The apparatus is now again in its position v of rest, and on inserting the next time card the operation described above is repeated.

When a time card in which a hole has not previously been punched is inserted in the card holder and in the recessl, it cannot be arrested by the hole finder 2 but continues its movement until it engages a feeler arm 88 which together with a sector 89 is adapted to turn about a pivot 9|]. The sector 89 is then turned clockwise according to Figure 1 so that an engaging surface 9| pushes away a pin 92 secured to the side plate 9. Hereby the feed pawl I2 is caused to turn the ratchet wheel II and as a consequence the circuit through the electromagnet is closed as described above. The sector 89 with its engaging surface SI also serves to hold the side plates 9, I5 in a definite position of rest'counter-clockwise when the apparatus is not in use. For said purpose there is arranged in the path of the arm 88 a stop pin 93.

.In order to prevent the effecting of more than one stamping for each depressing of the arm 4 the latter is provided with a projection carrying a pin 95 (Figure 1) which engages in a corresponding fork in the upper end of a lever 95 which is pivoted on a pin 96 secured in the frame. Below said pin 86 there is arranged in the lever 95 an opening in which engages a pin secured on a lever 91. The lever 91 is turnable about the pin 96 and is provided at its lower end with an engaging surface 98. In the pin arm I has in the manner described above en- 96 is secured a spring 99 which is carried about the pin 96 and bears against the lever at the other side of said pin.

When a time card is inserted in the apparatus and presses the arm 4 clockwise the pin 94 turns the lever 95 through a certain angle counterclockwise, the lever then carrying with it the lever 91 so that the lower end of the latter enters the path of the pin 9. When the pin 8 is displaced to the left according to Figure 1 by the arm 1 it does not yet reach the lever 91, but at the moment when the armature 29 is attracted the pin 8 together with the side plates 9, I5 is turned further counter-clockwise on account of the lever 33 engaging the pin 39. The pin pushes away the lever 91 against the action of the spring 99 secured to the carrying pin so that the pin 8 passes the lower end 98 of the lever. When immediately thereafter the armature 29 is restored to its resting position by spring 35 the pin 8 will be arrested by the engaging surface 99. In this position the pin 8 is out of reach for the lever l and the pin 92 is out of reach for the engaging surface 9!. Thus no further stamping can be eiTected until the card has been pulled up so far that the arm 4 has returned to its position of rest. When the arm 4 is returned to its position of rest the arm 95 is turned clockwise carrying with it the arm 97 so that the pin 8 slides off the surface 98 and returns to its position of rest together with its side plates 9, l5.

The movement of the armature 28 and the side plates 39 is utilized for effecting the punching of the holes in the inserted time cards. For this purpose there is pivotally secured to the left side plate 39 according to Figure 3 a link 49 which at its upper end is pivotally secured to a pin 9| on a U-shaped yoke 42. The latter turns about a spindle 44 secured in the frame 93. The other arm of the yoke 42 is at its upper end pivotally connected with the puncher 3 which is horizontally displaceable through two holes in the upper end of the frame 93.

When the armature 28 is attracted the pull link 49 will evidently be pulled downwards turning the yoke 42 clockwise according to Figure 1 whereby the puncher 43 is advanced. When the electromagnet 21 is deenergized and the armature 28 is pulled back by the spring 35 the link will in a corresponding manner pull the puncher back to its initial position.

To the left side plate according to Figure 3 is also secured an arrangement for feeding the coloured ribbon said arrangement comprising a laterally extending pin which at the reciprocatory movement of the side plate 99 carries with it a notched disc turnably secured on the frame part 95 which notched disc in turn carries with it a lever 99 so that said lever is turned back and forth through a small angle. The lever 9-9 is secured to a vertical spindle 97 which at its upper end is provided with a stepping mechanism for the coloured ribbon rolls.

The right side plate 39 (according to Figure 3) is rigidly connected by means of a pin 99 with an arm 48 adapted to turn about the spindle 29. Said arm 48 is at its upper (outer) end provided with a cross pin 59 which for the purpose of shifting the coloured ribbon from one colour to the other is adapted to co-operate with a knife edge 5| on a curve disc 52 turnably arranged on a pin 53 secured in the frame of the apparatus. On the side facing the knife edge the pin 59 is also shaped to form a knife edge in order that itshall not be able to stop in an intermediate position. In addition, the curve disc 52 is provided with an opening 55 acting as a coupling member for a pin 56 secured in a triangular disc 51 arranged inside the curve disc 52 and also turnable on the spindle 53. The curve disc 51 is actuated atits right end (Figure 4) by a spring-54 secured in the frame, the purpose of said spring being to counterbalance the weight of the curve disc 51 together with the parts attached thereto whereby the. mechanism becomes more easy in operation. By means of a link 58 pivotally secured at both ends the curve disc 52 is connected with a lower curve disc 59 which is turnable about a pin 59 and carries at its opposite end, reckoned from, the link 58, a so called semaphore 6| the upper end of which is provided with two differently coloured surfaces which are visible from without to indicate which one of the colours of the coloured ribbon is in use for the moment.

.When the coloured ribbon is to be shifted to another colour the bell crank lever 92 (to the right in Figure 4) is actuated in advance by a pin 63 appertaining to a so-called programme work of known construction. The bell crank lever 62 'then turns clockwise about the pin 64 and lifts by its longer arm the freely depending pendulum 95 so that a horizontal pin 66 on the lower portion thereof slides up along a sloping surface on the curve disc 59 and passes the point 61. At the predetermined moment the pendulum drops and slides down at the side of the point until it en gages the curve disc 59 turning the latter so far that the curve disc 52 is turned counter-clockwise by means of the pin 58 until the upper edge of the opening 55 engages the pin 56 and the knife edge 5! arrives below the opposite knife. edge of the pin 59. work respectively is not powerful enough to complete the shifting operation because an unreasonably strong and expensive construction would be required for such purpose. The shifting proper is instead effected by the electromagnet. when attracting its armature 28. The arm 99 then turns clockwise according to the above so that the pin 59 hits the upper sloping surface of the knife edge 5| with great force. Hereby the curve disc 52 is turned farther counter-clockwise carrying with it by means of the pin 56 the rear disc 5?, to the upper left corner of which (according to Figure 4) is pivotally secured a link 99 the upper end of which embraces by means of a lat-' eral opening a pin 59 of the coloured ribbon holder thus pushing the latter downwards.

The next time when the programme work turns the bell crank lever 62 clockwise about the pivot 94 the pendulum 65 is lifted anew this time passing over the edge 91 to the right whereby the curve disc 59 is turned clockwise. In order that the pendulum shall not derail causing the mechanism to become inoperative there is provided a holder 19 co-operating with the pin 69.

Through the clockwise movement of the curve disc 59 the link 58 is pressed upwards turning the curve disc 52 clockwise to the position shown in Figure 4 in which the knife edge 5| is positioned above the knife edge of the pin 59. When the electromagnet attracts its armature 28 the arm 48 is turned clockwise as before'and the pin 59 presses the lower sloping surface of the edge 5| forcefully upwards, the opening 55 carries with it the pin 56 and the curve disc 51 is turned clockwise. The link 68 is thus moved upwards and The pendulum or the programme pushes the pin 69 of the holder for the coloured ribbon upwards.

For the purpose of making the movements of the disc 51 more marked there is provided a spring arrangement consisting of an S-shapcd spring 12 secured to the'lower corner H of the disc 51 the other end of the spring bearing against a pin 13 secured in the frame. The arrangement is so dimensioned that the pin H must pass the connecting line between the pins 53 and 13 each time the coloured ribbon is shifted and that the two end positions of the pin ll liesymmetrically with respect to said line. Thus during each movement of the disc 51 the spring 12 will first be compressed i and thereafter expand again on the other side of said line accelerating the movement of the disc 51.

In order to obtain a more even leading of the armature 28 the mechanisms described above are so dimensioned that their movements do not take place absolutely simultaneously, the operation for shifting the position of the coloured ribbon (if this operation is to take place) being started first and then the punching of the card, whereafter the stamping hammer is flung against the card. At the end of the clockwise movement of the armature the breaking of the circuit is effected and during the return movement of the armature the feeding of the coloured ribbon.

In the event of the apparatus becoming currentless through a fault in a connecting wire or for some other reason there is a possibility of temporarily operating the apparatus manually. For this purpose a handle "Hi can be attached by means of a bayonet clutch to a shaft 75 on which is secured a disc 15 which by a helical spring 11 is normally pressed in a clockwise direction. In the disc '16 is further fastened a helical spring '18 the other end of which is fastened to an arm 19 which is adapted to turn on a pin 80. To the arm 19 is secured an abutment piece 9| which when the arm 19 moves counter-clockwise according to Figure engages an abutment piece 82 secured on a bell crank lever 83 which is adapted to turn on a pivot 84 against the action of a spring 85. At the upper end of the arm 18 is secured a pin 86 which when the arm i9 turns counter-clockwise can carry with it a lever 81 rigidly secured to the armature 28. 1

When the handle '54 has been attached to the shaft 15 and is pressed downwards the disc 16 will initially turn through a small angle counterclockwise against the action of. the springs 17 and 18 while the arm 79 is prevented from following on account of the abutment 8| being arrested by the abutment 82. When pressing down the handle harder the pin 853 on the disc 16 will engage the bell crank lever 83 turning the same clockwise whereby the abutment 82 is turned away and the arm 19 is suddenly pulled to the left by the spring '18 and hits the arm 81. At the moment when the handle is released the mechanism is pulled back by the springs to the position'of rest shown. The advantage of this arrangement over the arrangement of simply placing the handle directly on some part that is rigidly connected with the armature 28 is that a marked impulse is obtained and that every attempt to effect a faulty stamping or other manipulations not allowedis prevented.

I claim:

1. Impression mechanism with electromagnetic driving or controlling arrangement, particularly for workmens time recorders, characterized in that a contact arrangement for closing and opening the circuit through an electromagnetic arrangement for driving or controlling theapparatus is controlled by a toothed wheel or ratchet device which cooperates with a stepping mechanism adapted to be advanced alternately on the closing of the circuit by means of an arm arranged in the path of thetime card and adapted to be actuated by the latter upon its insertion in the apparatus and alternately on the breaking of the circuit by means of a lever or the like connected with the electromagnetic arrangement.

2. Impression mechanism according'to claim 1, characterized in that the stepping mechanism consists of two mutually connected side plates arranged at opposite sides of the ratchet wheel.

and freely rotatable on a spindle each plate being provided with a number of lateral pins of which one forms the pivot for a feed pawl 00- operating with the ratchet wheel whilst two others serve as abutments for an arm actuated by the time card and thelever actuated by the electromagnet.

3. Impression mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by a quick-break arrangement the contacting arrangement of which is designed as two contact springs which in their positions of rest press each against an appertaining bell crank lever the other ends of said levers being so formed that in their positions of rest one bell crank lever will bear against the point of a tooth of the ratchet wheel and the other enter into an adjacent space between the teeth.

4. Ina mechanism according to claim 1 two contacts adapted for quickly closing and opening the circuit, two bell cranklevers adapted to actuate said contacts and provided with projections cooperating with the teeth of said ratchet device, said teeth shaped so as to permit any of said projections to freely move into the space between two subsequent teeth after having passed the point of one tooth of said device during a relative movement of said device and said projection. I

5. In a mechanism according to claim 1, said last mentioned lever provided with a recess adapted to be swung into the path of the teeth of said ratchet device for stopping said device.

6. In a mechanism according to claim 1, two cooperating contacts for quickly closing and breaking the circuit, two levers pivotally arranged for actuating said contacts, said levers provided with parts adapted to engage said ratchet device and to enter any of the spaces between its teeth, whereby their movement is controlled, and means for preventing any said part to move down to the bottom of said space when entering it.

'7. In a mechanism according to claim 1, a feed pawl aranged to cooperate with said ratchet device, rotary means pivotally supporting said pawl, two levers pivotally arranged for controlling said contact arrangement, said levers provided with parts engaging said ratchet device, whereby their movement is controlled, and common means for limiting the movement of said parts into said ratchet device and of said pawl upon entering the space between subsequent teeth of said ratchet device.

8. In a mechanism according to claim 1, movable means for finding a hole in a time card ar ranged close to its path, elastic means connecting said hole finding means with said arm arranged in the path of the time card, said arm moving said hole finding means upon insertion of a card towards said card and in engagement therewith, thereby tensioning said elastic means while the card is further moved along its path, means operatively connected with said hole finding means and adapted to advance said ratchet device under the action of said tensioned elastic means when said finding means enter a hole of said card.

9. A device for printing Workmens time cards comprising an electromagnetic device for actuaating the printing stamp, a contact arrangement controlling the electric circuit for energizing said device, means for quickly opening and closing said contacts, a toothed device for actuating said means, a first member arranged in the path of said card adapted to be moved by it, a second member arranged in said path behind said first member and spaced therefrom, a feeding pawl adapted to engage and advance said toothed device thereby causing a closing and subsequent opening of said circuit, and means operatively connected with said second member for operating said pawl if an inserted card reaches and moves said second member.

10. In a mechanism according to claim 9, a puncher for punching a hole in said card, means for operating said puncher, depending upon the position of said second member, so that a hole is punched in said card at a desired place when said card has reached and moved said second member.

11. In a mechanism according to claim 9, a puncher for punching a hole in said card, means for operating said puncher to be actuated by said electromagnetic device when energized.

12. In a mechanism according to claim 9, a puncher for punching a hole in said card, means for operating said puncher to be actuated by said electromagnetic device when energized, and a device for feeding a coloured ribbon in front of said printing stamp, said feeding device operated by said electromagnetic arrangement.

13. Stamping apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of an armature actuated by an electromagnet and a restoring spring, said armature being connected with arms or side plates journalled on a spindle and radially extending therefrom, driving arrangements for hole punching, stamping, and coloured ribbon feed being secured to said side plates.

14. A stamping device, in particular for workmens time cards, comprising a printing stamp, an electromagnetic device for operating said stamp, a contact device for closing and opening an electric circuit controlling the energization of said electromagnetic device, means for actuating said contact device, a toothed member for operating said last mentioned means, a ratchet device for alternately advancing and stopping said toothed member, a path for inserting a card and a member arranged in said path to be moved by a card when inserted, means operatively connect ing said latter member with said ratchet device, advancing said latter device and causing thereby the closing of said contact if a card is inserted in said path, whereby said electromagnet is energized and said stamp made to print said card, and means operatively connected with said electromagnetic device for completing the movement of said tooth member after it has caused the closing of said contacts, thereby causing the reopening of said contacts.

15. A stamping device, in particular for workmens time cards, comprising a printing stamp, an electromagnetic device for operating said stamp, a contact device for closing and opening an electric circuit controlling the energization of said electromagnetic device, means for actuating said contact device, a toothed member for operating said last mentioned means, a ratchet device for alternately advancing and stopping said toothed member, a pawl adapted to engage said toothed member, means for movably supporting said pawl in operative proximity to said toothed member, a path for inserting a card, a member arranged in said path adapted to be moved by said card when inserted, means for moving said supporting means when said latter member is moved by said card, thereby causing said pawl to engage and advance said toothed member, and. means connected with said printing stamp adapted to move said supporting means, thereby causing said pawl to complete the advancing of said toothed member.

16. In a mechanism according to claim 14, additional means connected with said printing stamp, said means adapted to be operated by hand.

JOI-IAN ALBIN JONSSON. 

